Portable, collapsible, multiple lavatory



Dec. 1962 M. E. M CORMACK PORTABLE, COLLAPSIBLE, MULTIPLE LAVATORY Filed Dec. 14, 1960 IN VENTOR McCor/naclr BY (zy m,

ATTORNEY United States Patent Office Mdbhdib i Patented Dec. 25, 1932 $069,694 PORTABLE, OLLAPS1BLE, MULTIPLE LAVATGRY Mark E. McCorrnack, 26 Leonard Drive,

Southboro, Mass. Filed Dec. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 75,887 4 Claims. (Cl. 4'-166) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), see. 266) The invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a multiple lavatory, which is both collapsible and portable, and intended primarily for field use in the Armed Forces.

An object of the invention consists in the provision of a simplified construction of multiple lavatory comprising few parts, such as a plurality of wash basins formed from a single sheet of flexible material, a frame for supporting the same, means common to all of the basins for supplying water selectively to the individual basins, and captive stopper means permitting the draining of water from a basin, or basins, independently of all of the other basins.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel collapsible and portable multiple lavatory of a character which permits it to be manufactured inexpensively in a wide range of sizes and with a varying number of individual wash basins; another object being to provide one which is capable of being quickly and easily set-up or dismantled in the field Without requiring the use of special tools.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description and appended claims when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In said drawing:

FIG. 1 is a top plan View of one form of lavatory embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the lavatory of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view, taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail side elevation, partly in section, of one of the water shut-off clamps of the present invention.

Before explaining in detail the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. it is to be understood also that the phraseology or terminology en1- ployed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

Generally speaking, the portable, collapsible, multiple lavatory of the present invention preferably comprises a tubular frame shown, merely for illustration, as being of skeleton rectangular form, upon which is supported a plastic, rubber, rubber composition, or synthetic rubber flexible deck or counter having formed therein a multiplicity of individual wash basin depressions which, as shown, are an integral part of the deck shown as being spaced in opposed pairs and in two rows lengthwise of said deck. Throughout the length of the longitudinal center of the deck is disposed a rubber or plastic water conduit, or hose, having spaced pairs of oppositely directed branch tubes or connections which are adapted to supply water selectively to all of the wash basins. Each branch connection is preferably equipped with a spring hose clamp for pinching it closed so as to normally maintain the water flow shut off. Water for washing or other purposes may be fed to the conduit, or manifold by gravity from an elevated supply tank, or it. may be pumped under pressure from a suitable source of supply.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, the lavatory, as shown, comprises a frame structure indicated as a whole at it], having longitudinal tubular side frame members 11, 11, a central tubular member 11a, and transverse end connecting frame members 12, 12, releasably connected together at their adjacent ends in any suitable manner, as by means of conventional plumbing fittings, such as T-couplings, or the like 13. The skeleton frame, shown as being oblong merely for illustrative purposes, is supported in substantially a horizontal plane above the ground by means of preferably tubular legs 14, one at each corner. The upper end of each leg 14 telescopes into and may be threaded into, the vertical socket of a corner plumbing fitting or T-coupling 13.

Mounted upon the frame structure 14) is the deck or counter 15 which is formed with a series or multiplicity of individual wash basin depressions 16. As shown, the basin depression 16 are arranged in spaced opposed pairs lengthwise of the deck.

The deck or counter 15, with its preferably integral pairs of basins 16, is held in flatwise condition on the frame It) by any suitable means, such as by a series of straps 17. These straps 17, one each being disposed in the space between each two pairs of basins 16, are sewed, cemented, or stapled to the deck 15. As seen best in FIG. 4, they are provided with conventional buckles 13 at their ends which, when fastened, are located at approximately the longitudinal center of the deck 15 below the center member 11a at the underside thereof. If desired, however, the ends of straps 17 may be provided with suitable clips (not shown) to fit into slots (not shown) in the tubular frame members. Any suitable means may be employed, it being desirable to hold the deck 15 firmly in position on the frame to properly support and sustain the weight of the water in the depressed basins 16, while permitting the whole lavatory to be dismantled with ease and facility when necessary.

In order to supply water to the various basins 16, the lavatory includes a longitudinally extending cent-rally disposed preferably rubber or plastic conduit or manifold 19 which extends substantially from end to end of the frame structure 10. The conduit 1h has at spaced points pairs of branch tubes or pipes 20, 20 which extend outwardly in opposite directions and slightly downward at substantially a right angle to manifold 19. One such pair of branch pipes or tubes 20 is provided for each pair of basins 16.

The manifold or conduit 19 is adapted to be attached to an elevated water supply tank (not shown) by a hose conduit 1%, see FIGS. 1 and 2. Or, if desired, wat r may be pumped under pressure to the longitudinal mar." fold 19.

Each Wash basin 16 is provided at'its bottom with a drain opening preferably surrounded by a reinforcing ring 21 (FIG. 4) and a captive preferably rubber stopper 22 equipped with a lifting ring 23 or pull chain (not shown). Water Within a basin in seals the stopper disk 22. When it is desired to drain a basin, the stopper 22 is lifted from its seat to allow the water to drain out and into a trench (not shown) beneath the lavatory. The enlargement or knob-like member 2311 on the lower end of the stem of stopper 2.2 is of somewhat greater diameter than the inside diameter of the reinforcing ring 21, to thus prevent removal or loss of the stopper from the basin 16.

The branches or short tubes 24), being flexible, lend themselves to the use of inexpensive clamp-type water cut-off means such, for example, as the spring clamp 25 best seen in FIG. 5 of the drawing. One of these spring clamps 25 is provided for each of the flexible branches 2%). Each clamp has a pair of pivoted jaws 26, 26 and handle portions 27, 27, the jaws and handles being at opposite sides of the clamp pivot pin 28. A coiled spring 29 is disposed between the handles 27, 27 and by its expanding or spreading of these handles, the jaws 26, 26 are moved toward each other to grip and collapse, and thus close and seal the flexible branch pipe 2% to prevent any flow of water from the manifold 19 into the basin 16 with which the branch 20 is associated.

By virtue of the structure of the shut-off clamp 25, the tube 26 remains normally pinched into closed condition. To allow the flow of water into a basin 16, the user merely has to move or squeeze the handles 27, 27 together to release the grip of the jaws 26, 26 on branch tube 2% Upon release of the handles, the spring 29 returns the clamping jaws to their position of FIG. 5, wherein the branch tube or pipe 20 is pinched or held closed.

If desired, soap dish depressions (not shown) may be provided in the deck or counter 15 in the vicinity of the basins 16. The lavatory unit may be made in various lengths to serve variations in the number of users. Moreover, the water may be heated by any suitable and conventional water-heating means.

It is to be understood that the lavatory unit of the instant invention may be completely disassembled by removing the flexible deck or counter 15, collapsing the wash basin depressions 16 flat, and rolling the deck into a compact roll. The tubular frame 10 may then be disassembled and inserted in the roll, along with the feed .water conduit or hose 19', 19a to provide a compact package for shipment or storage.

Whereas the portable lavatory unit of the present invention has been designed for field use by military personnel, it obviously lends itself to various civilian uses as well.

1 claim:

1. A portable knockdown and foldable lavatory comprising a substantially horizontal frame structure composed of cooperating side and end frame members, legs depending from the frame structure for supporting the same above the ground or other surface, a unitary flexible and foldable deck member formed from watertight material having a plurality of individual wash basin depressions formed therein, said unitary deck member being mounted upon the frame, a plurality of means attached to the deck member and engaged with the frame for holding said deck member in flatwise condition on said frame, and means for connection to a source of water supply associated with the top side of said deck member and having separate means for selectively supplying water to the various wash basin depressions formed therein.

2. A portable knockdown lavatory comprising a substantially horizontal frame structure having cooperating side and end frame members, legs depending from the frame structure for supporting the same, a unitary flexible deck member formed from watertight material and having a plurality of individual wash basin depressions formed therein, said unitary deck member being removably mounted upon the frame, means attached to the deck member for releasably engaging the frame and holding said deck member in relatively flatwise condition on said frame, and a flexible water supply conduit formed from an elastomer for connection to a source of water supply associated with said deck member and having means for selectively supplying water to the various wash basin depressions formed therein.

3. A portable knockdown lavatory according to claim 2, wherein the means for selectively supplying water comprises a series of flexible branches formed from an elastomer extending from the water supply conduit, one thereof for each of said wash basin depressions, and wherein a springclosed water shut-off device is associated with each of said flexible branches.

4. A lavatory according to claim 3, wherein each of the wash basin depressions is provided with a drain opening, and wherein each of said openings is normally closed by a freely movable but captive stopper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 892,523 Howe July 7, 1908 1,190,713 Bokof July 11, 1916 2,421,808 Robertson June 10, 1947 2,810,916 Cullen Oct. 29, 1957 

